Workers were out all over the property when we arrived on Saturday. Building a chicken coop, raising fence around garden, hauling trash, building an altar, cleaning, installing windows, and of course, cooking for the 100+ Anandans who converge from all the different communities to add their energy to the growing vitality that is rapidly becoming Laurelwood, Ananda’s newest community.

Hauling compost material to the Garden

But this community is different. First while rural, it is only 30 minutes from a major metropolitan town, Portland, Oregon. Second, and more importantly, its focus is “Education for Life” started 40 years ago based upon the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda’s book, published 25 years ago. Living Wisdom schools thrive around many of the communities but more teachers need to trained to use these principles in the education process. I am not going into these principles here as there are many who are much more steeped in this than I. Within this blog, you can find authors, such as Usha McDermond, Lorna Knox, Nitai Deranja, who express these concepts clearly. Teacher training will be a focus here over the coming years.

Nailing up the new Altar in Auditorium

We had hoped to participate in the “Seva” (or work) day last Saturday, but our travel time was underestimated so we spent the last hour touring around with Devi Novak who should us many of the activities on which our friends had been working. Joy filled their beings even though their bodies grew weary. Everyone pitched in with great energy. As we gathered together in the auditorium to close the workday, Daiva, the Colony leader here, and experienced craftsman, noted to the audience that they were watching “reality TV” as carpenters were putting the final nails in the new altar and cutting the last board.

Dinner in the Dining Hall

Later that evening, after a wonderful meal and satsang, we returned to the auditorium for music and theater. 50 choir members from all the different communities formed the Laurelite World Brotherhood choir to sing in the new acoustical environment where the sound was great everywhere in the space. Then, on the, yet to be completed, altar, the Laurelites (as the staff calls themselves) performed one of the best P.G. Wodehouse staged readings I have ever witnessed in 20 years!

One of the dormitory paths

For many of us, who came from other Ananda communities afar and those Anandan’s from Portland, this is a much different experience. There are buildings of many different uses, from an Industrial workshop with automotive bays and painting rooms, to a gymnasium large enough to hold 2 basketball courts AND a shuffleboard room. Dormitory buildings and other housing sufficient for 400 people! and a wonderful kitchen common area! The list goes way beyond the scope of this post.

When I first heard that Ananda Laurelwood was purchased I wondered where the people would come from to live here, or how they would live? Underlying physical immensity of the buildings and property is a place already imbued with a sense of service to God for over a century. The grounds are hallowed and it is as if this property were being held for when the time was right. And it is right. Divine Mother brought us this property and is bringing us many willing souls who are pouring their energies into building an educational community unlike anything Ananda has ever seen.

As I wandered around over the past 2 days attending meals, visiting with friends, helping out here and there, attending Sunday Service with the new altar, I found a new energy happening. It is best you all come visit as words nor pictures can describe this adequately. And when you do visit, you will get it, and understand what is trying to happen here.

]]>http://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/3342/dedication-weekend-for-ananda-laurelwood/feed/4Ananda Tucsonhttp://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1414/ananda-tucson/
http://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1414/ananda-tucson/#commentsSun, 28 Feb 2010 22:35:02 +0000http://www.aplacecalledananda.org/kent/1414/ananda-tucson/Many inspired and dedicated souls are, for many reasons, unable to live in Ananda communities. So they read the website and books by Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda and others. They meditate. When possible many visit our communities worldwide for inspiration, renewal and spiritual satsang fellowship.

Yogananda said that “Environment is stronger than will”. In order to create an environment around them more conducive to spiritual practice, some feel inspired to sponsor or attend a local meditation group where souls of like mind and aspiration can gather in support of each other and meditate together. These groups often sprout other meditation groups nearby and so it goes. As Jesus said, “When 2 or 3 are gathered together”. Some groups even go further and found small centers where they can gather in a more centralized location for larger and varied activities.

Such is Ananda Tucson.

For many years here in Tucson, Arizona, a small group of dedicated individuals met in each others homes to meditate and discuss Yogananda’s spiritual principles. Many have visited and some have lived at Ananda village at one time or another. The greater Tucson area is very geographically widespread with 2 current active meditation groups thriving through weekly meditations, one on the East side and one on the West with travel time being over an hour between. And now, thanks to some very committed souls, the Ananda community in Tucson is growing with a real physical center closer to the middle on the north side.

Countless hours of selfless effort and numerous weekend work parties has resulted in the creation of a beautiful, peaceful harbor and spiritual center for those Tucsonians and their friends. This small unassuming house in middle an older neighborhood on a relatively busy street, was purchased and has been remodeled in order to provide a large meeting area with open kitchen for gatherings, a small meditation room and even guest quarters. The house also came with a prized second lot in the back, which can be used for off street parking. Landscaping is just being added to provide garden areas in both front and back for everyone.

It is easily identified from the street by a spiritual eye painted on the mailbox out front.

Now they can call themselves “Ananda Tucson” with a center that can support many additional activities such as study groups and special events can be held for larger groups. Last weekend, Sraddha and I led Sunday Service followed by a satsang with everyone complete with a feast provided by volunteers.

It’s not just the physical place, but the spirit of all involved who create this blessed experience for all in the coming years. This can happen anywhere and has in many locations. All it takes a vision along with dedicated group of cooperative individuals willing say, “God is the Doer here” then channel their time and energy into making it happen.

As every Ananda community worldwide has experienced early in their lives, this is a humble beginning for Ananda Tucson. Who knows what Divine Mother has in store for its future.

Swami Kriyananda says in his book, Affirmations for Self-Healing, “One should not strain, nor reach outward mentally, to think of God. Think not merely about Him: Think to Him. Share with Him your passing feelings, your idlest fancy. Talk with Him. Practice His presence – at first, perhaps, for minutes a day, then for hours, and then all the time.”

So how do we do this as the pull of the world of maya is immensely strong?

It helps to have little reminders in our daily life wherever you are. Here are a few simple suggestions which I have found helpful in daily life.

Find artwork that inspires you and helps you remember God.

Place little reminders around your world everywhere you can.

Make a screen saver for your computer comprised of your favorite divine photos.

Photos or prints of the Master’s or other inspirational aspects of God can be found in all rooms of our home and offices.

Put an outdoor statue in your garden.

It is the Christmas season in the western world and many of us put up home decorations. Try to find some inspiring decorations such as angels or other similar ornaments for your hearth or tree.

Get a small photo of Yogananda and place it on your dashboard in your vehicle. If you don’t have any this size, The Crystal Hermitage Shrine of the Masters Boutique at Ananda Village has wallet sized photos of all the Master’s of our line along with garden statues. You can contact them at 530-478-7586.

You don’t need blue-tooth to “think” to God.

What other ways do you use to help remember. Please leave a comment.

]]>http://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1276/god-reminders-in-daily-life/feed/9Vacationing with Spirithttp://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1241/vacationing-with-spirit/
http://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1241/vacationing-with-spirit/#commentsFri, 16 Oct 2009 03:11:07 +0000http://www.aplacecalledananda.org/kent/1241/vacationing-with-spirit/While we live at Ananda Village, when we vacation (as opposed to seclusion), we like to travel and see other parts of the country and world.

Currently we are traveling in the Southwest U.S. backroads, towing a travel trailer with our pickup which gives us a little sanctuary with our vibration.
I have never visited much of this area before (Arizona yes, but rest no). Have seen photos, however, the beauty is so much better in person. I can recommend it for yogis. So spacious and open. Deeply peaceful. This time of year (late Sept. and Oct.) is best with fall colors, tapestries AND so few people! Easy to meditate, in fact you almost fall into the state.

We rented the trailer in Salt Lake, then drove through SE Utah to Canyonlands National Park. Because we have a truck we were able to drive down into the canyon itself. Wow! As good as the Grand Canyon, yet much more isolated.

When we hike, or even walk, we don’t talk much. We just look and feel while thanking Divine Mother for these incredible creations. Her artwork is unparallelled. Sometimes we walk fast for the exercise, however, often we dawdle while inspecting plants, trees, watching birds and sometimes other animals. We especially like to find places that are quiet, and off the beaten path. Sometimes we stay on the beaten path with many others so have to work at remaining focused within to the Divine and we behold the without. As we travel, we observe and, well, tend to be quite expressive of our amazement at these creations. We talk with Divine Mother with expression like “Wow!”, or “gorgeous, simply gorgeous” and we always give credit the Divine Artist. Try it sometime.

We just arrived at an isolated RV park near East Entrance of Zion. Well, 5 miles off main road and another 800 ft higher in elevation. Actually an 8000 acre ranch that has been turned into a resort and not far from start of a 16 mile hike through Narrows of Virgin River. Am looking out window of trailer in southward direction and can see about 20 miles. Cloudy as storm is approaching but not expecting much if any rain. Windy, yet spouse is out searching for birds. will be dark soon so she will be back to roost. Hope to hike part of the Narrows tomorrow and tour Zion Canyon. (which we did).

]]>http://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/1241/vacationing-with-spirit/feed/1Live from Ananda Villagehttp://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/594/live-from-ananda-village/
Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:11:02 +0000http://www.aplacecalledananda.org/kent/594/live-from-ananda-village/First live broadcast today of Swami Kriyananda talk from our new amphitheater. Last night, crews were still laying cables to bring power, lighting, sound and AnandaBell DSL. That on top of a new shade tarp. Truly amazing feat considering this is all our own system.

We set up and tested the connection on Thursday then again first thing Friday morninge while the choir rehearsed.

We are capturing the feed off of a High Definition camera which is used for recording Swami’s talks during his summer visit. The feed gets encoded on a little laptop sitting next to the camera and uploaded via DSL line to our streaming servers in Canada for rebroadcast. You can tune in here to view during live broadcasts or watch them later on our website.

We hope to broadcast Sunday services this summer when conducted by Swami Kriyananda. This Sunday (June 23) will be the first.

Schedule of future live telecasts may be found here. We hope you will join us.–Om

Last Monday, on May 19, 250 devotees in 7 different colonies celebrated Swami Kriyananda’s Birthday with a LIVE video conference.

Early Dwapara Yuga sees many technological and social advancements. For instance, we have long offered the time shifting capabilities of viewing recorded videos of Sunday Services or recent talks by Swami Kriyanananda on our website. We videotape these events, work our computer magic to put them into a form that is suitable for internet viewing and put them on our website where you can view them on demand any time from anywhere which has served tens of thousands of devotees over the years. These audio and video recordings are also offered by some of the colonies including India and Italy.

Now we have begun to remove the geographic barriers to being with Swami and each other with real time live conferences and broadcasts. As with all processes at Ananda, this is growing organically, one step at a time.

Earlier in the spring, the decision was made to acquire and install a new technology which enables Swami Kriyananda to communicate over the internet to a larger audience. Called video conferencing, it enables 2 way live simultaneous audio and video communication between parties. What’s the big deal? Telephones have been around for ages and now, with internet, there is skype, etc. What is new for us is the ability to send and receive a clear, LARGE, and live conference.

We started out with 2 way conference between Swami who is currently at his home in Assisi, Italy and our community residents at Ananda Village who gathered for these satsangs at Hansa Mandir (where we hold Sunday service) after morning meditation. Swami could hear and see us on his large screen TV in his home and we could see him on a big screen set up with projector and hear him via a large speaker. LIVE, I mean live. no delays. Just like talking on a telephone except the image of Swami projected on a big screen in front of Hansa altar. Residents were deeply touched by the sense of true satsang with Swami despite the 9,000 mile distance.

We then, at a subsequent satsang, tested our ability to broadcast this conference to one viewer which turned out to be Ananda Seattle. They watched and heard whatever we saw and heard. Thanks to high speed broadband connection, they had a very satisfying experience.

Last week, for the birthday celebration we sent the live stream to a server in Canada for rebroadcast and it was then viewed simultaneously at community gatherings India, Seattle, Portland, Palo Alto and Los Angeles. Ananda Italy moved their side of broadcast to their beautiful mandir and we saw 50 residents from the Assisi community present. The World Brotherhood choir at Ananda Village sang several songs and a quartet of musicians played several instrumental pieces.

What is next is future more widespread live broadcasts of some of the summer events here at Ananda Village and maybe even some 2 way live satsangs with Swami Kriyananda from wherever he resides. We are removing the the geographic barrier in his ability to have satsang with other devotees around the world. Truly a major shift for the future. Stay tuned for more on the ananda.org website.

]]>Jesus as a Yoga Masterhttp://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/515/jesus-as-a-yoga-master/
Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:41:25 +0000http://www.aplacecalledananda.org/kent/515/jesus-as-a-yoga-master/“I wasn’t sent to the West,” Yogananda often told his audiences, “by Christ and the great masters of India to dogmatize you with a new theology. Jesus himself asked Babaji to send someone here to teach you the science of Kriya Yoga, that people might learn how to commune with God directly. I want to help you to attain actual experience of Him, through your daily practice of Kriya Yoga.” – Paramhansa Yogananda

The final marble statue which is of Jesus just arrived last week from India. Our line of masters or gurus is 5 deep (Jesus, Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Yukteswar and Paramhansa Yogananda) and Jesus holds pole position as you can see from Yogananda’s comment above. He is viewed by Yogananda devotees worldwide as a great Master of yoga.

Marble statue of Jesus to complement other Ananda yoga masters.

Which is the reason we returned to India to commission the same artist in Jaipur, India to hand-carve this statue of Jesus sitting in meditation. He is sitting in lotus posture with hands upturned. The facial features were drawn from a photograph of the Hoffman painting similar to the one which many of your meditation altars. Funds were donated to Ananda Village as our annual community Christmas gift by its members and it just arrived last week.

See previous posts for information on the other statues of the Masters.

“Be restful in your heart” is one of the daily sayings from Swami Kriyananda writing in his small book called “Do It Now”

Sunset During Seclusion

Upon reflection, during this past week’s seclusion, it seemed that as I have been less caught up in daily “to do’s” and requests, I noticed that as the week has progressed, the mind has relaxed since it had little to do externally all week (walks, and chores notwithstanding) and also my heart seemed to relax.

Seven years ago, while shoveling snow on February morning outside our home here at Ananda Village, I experienced a mild heart attack. I had only lived at Ananda Village for 18 months or so, having left a career which involved a tremendous amount of stress. This lead to the inevitable trip to ICU, etc., yet I was home shortly thereafter, more deeply committed to recuperation and changing some lifestyle habits. Thirty pounds later and as I learned more about these teachings, I discovered that the heart chakra resides behind the physical heart but there is also a tie in. As I relaxed and rested my heart chakra, my physical heart seemed more rested. This is not to suggest substituting meditation for exercise because moderate exercise each day can help keep most of us, not only in better physical shape but it helps our meditations because the body wants to then relax and we usually find ourselves more calm during meditation.

Yogananda urges us to practice energization exercises daily prior to meditation. This subtle tension and relaxation techniques often helps calm the body, energize the nervous system in a calming way and thereby I find my body and heart more relaxed yet awake. Ananda Yoga is also about preparing the body for meditation but that is another story told by authors much more understanding so I will not dwell on this.

When we relax or rest our heart, we also open up to new energies within. I often almost naturally feel more loving towards others for instance. More willing to listen within to the sounds of the Divine.

Yogananda, in one of his prayers says: “Father, teach me to be calmly active and actively calm…”

All this is fairly easy to accomplish as we progress in seclusion with concentrated effort to relax our hearts. It almost sounds almost contradictory to make an effort to relax but it is also good practice for daily lives. Recently at work, I was running late to an appointment and didn’t feel very relaxed. As I was rushing out the door, a co-worker wanted to ask me to do something for him and it couldn’t wait until later to discuss it. I was not very relaxed at this point feeling a lot of tension in my body as I didn’t want to deal with this issue right then. Upon reflection later, I saw that, while the issue was important then tension was not.

So for this next year, as we progress into celebrating Ananda Village’s 40th anniversary, my goal is to remember this prayer: “Father, teach me to be calmly active and actively calm” and be more restful in my heart.

As part of our spiritual practice here at Ananda Village, we are urged to take seclusions regularly, perhaps just a day here and there) and at least annually, take a week seclusion, as a balance to all of our busy outward service activities. In fact, employees like me, who work for Ananda Businesses here at Ananda Village, are offered a week long seclusion time in addition to our standard vacation time. Since it is not cumulative, I didn’t schedule the time and consequently didn’t “take seclusion” and really missed it.

In the Bhagavad Gita it says: “Free from the hopes (engendered by) desire, and untouched by any craving for possession, the (waves of feeling in his) heart controlled (by yoga concentration), the yogi, retiring alone to a quiet place, should try to unite his little self with the Supreme Self.” (Chapter 6 verse 10). (Commentary in “The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita” Page 255 in chapter 18)

This week I am taking seclusion for seven days. Well it is really only six because I had company over weekend and then had to prepare on Monday, etc. What I plan to do is not speak with anyone, no work related activities at IT, or clinic, or solar, stay quiet, walk, meditate, chant, read books, listen to inspiring music, in essence, focus inward, attempting to go deeper into the quiet spaces of the soul and each little bit helps. Will chop wood and carry water, but with the Divine on my mind, not just the mundane.

This is an opportunity for longer meditation and to release, at least for a few days each year, my mind from the outward push and pull of daily life. Some people’s seclusions are very deep, others aren’t. I’ve had mixed results upon first impression, but always feel renewed. I don’t claim to be even conversant with how to seclude. Sort of “just do it”. One recommendation I have heard is to maintain silence. For this seclusion, I interpret that to be not speaking or hopefully interacting with anyone. But, as mentioned, I am listening to certain music with deep spirit vibration and with deep (a relative term) concentration on some talks by those souls whom I feel have a deeper understanding of the infinite than I in hopes of gleaning some inspiration towards my own goal of self realization.

Seclusion location is up the individual. I am taking seclusion at home because my spouse is visiting and volunteering some time in Ananda LA during this week. The challenge, for me here, is to not get too wrapped up in all the little home projects. The advantage is low cost and I get to sleep in my own bed. Plus our home is in a quiet, isolated part of village (whole village is pretty quiet really) so I don’t see neighbors and can walk into the woods pretty far without seeing anyone. Other’s go to meditation retreat. Lots of options. More later.

]]>Chapter 3 – Blessing the statues of the Kriya Mastershttp://www.ananda.org/a-place-called-ananda/kent/155/chapter-3-blessing-the-statues-of-the-kriya-masters/
Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:02:06 +0000http://www.aplacecalledananda.org/kent/155/chapter-3-blessing-the-statues-of-the-kriya-masters/Last week, Thursday, July 12, the statues of the Kriya Masters were blessed with a wonderful ceremony at Hansa Mandir where we hold Sunday services and daily morning meditations.

Swami Kriyananda conducted the dedication ceremony for the statues at Hansa Mandir, Ananda’s community temple. He spoke simply and devotionally about how Divine Grace can be drawn from the objects of worship by the power of our love and how our devotion will further activate this energy within these objects. I spoke at length with the sculptors during their visit here and they told me about the ceremonies performed to bless and energize these statues prior to shipping them to us. That was why many of us could immediately experience deeper meditations from the first day they appeared in the Hansa Mandir.

A slide show was placed on the ananda website which beautifully portrays the statues and this blessing ceremony. you can view it here.

While the smaller 24 inch statues each weighed close to 200 pounds and were easy to move, the larger 42 inch statues required some heavy lifting. Fortunately our crew was creative and borrowed an half ton engine hoist which allowed us to lift it up 18 inches very easily. Stop by next time you visit Ananda Village to spend some time in meditation with these beautiful works of art. They will bless us all for centuries to come.